Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta 'proud of women's progress in cricket'

Pacer Jyoti Kumari gets an award from Amruta Fadnavis

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution function of the Women's Premier League at MIG Cricket Ground yesterday, said she felt proud with the kind of progress Indian women cricketers have made. "I feel proud that women are doing well in cricket - a male-dominated sport. The Indian women were brilliant in South Africa. Our women cricketers are invited to play in Australia's Women's Big Bash League which is a matter of pride.

My advice to all cricketers here (at MIG CC) is, if you want to reach the top and become champions like Sachin Tendulkar or Mithali Raj, keep your focus on the ball and hit a six whenever you get a chance," Fadnavis said. On talk about the men cricketers getting far more than women players in the latest player contracts released by the Indian cricket board, she said, "I think there is disparity in every sphere of life. But we do have exceptions where women with their work and confidence, can demand more. If they [women cricketers] feel that they deserve more, they should demand." Film director Madhur Bhandarkar, who also graced the prize distribution function, said: "Women's cricket has become so popular in the last two to three years that my 11-year-old daughter [Siddhi] wants to meet Mithali Raj and not a male cricketing star."

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